As the DJ called out, the players from Wake Forest University filed out onto the court.
Duncan was, without a doubt, the final player to be introduced, and He Ximeng, arranged by head coach Dave Odom, was scheduled to appear second to last...
When He Ximeng, with his distinctly Asian features, emerged, the audience in the arena almost universally questioned, "Who is this guy?"
"Why is he in the Wake Forest University lineup?"
"On what grounds is he appearing second to last?"
Dean Smith, the head coach of North Carolina, who had just lost his own game and was sitting dejectedly in the stands, looked utterly bewildered when He Ximeng appeared.
"What is Dave up to? How is He Ximeng playing this season? Shouldn't he be eligible to play next season? Could it be that Dave wants He Ximeng to replace their injured point guard? That's pure fantasy... It looks like there's going to be another upset today..."
Dean Smith held no high hopes for the shorthanded Wake Forest team. He believed He Ximeng couldn't possibly fill the void left by Tony Lang, and Dave Odom's actions were simply a desperate measure.
As a result, Wake Forest University's performance delivered a harsh blow to Dean Smith!
On the opening possession, He Ximeng connected with Duncan, assisting him in a simple dunk under the basket!
In the next play, Virginia's point guard Harold attempted to drive past He Ximeng with a crossover, but He Ximeng anticipated it and stole the ball!
He Ximeng accelerated past half-court, glancing back. Aside from Harold, who was desperately trying to catch up, his teammates hadn't kept pace...
Helpless, He Ximeng could only leap high and initiate his NCAA scoring career with a one-handed gliding slam dunk!
"Wow~ That number 4 freshman for Wake Forest University is so fast!"
"It's not unusual for Asian players to be fast, but to possess such excellent jumping ability simultaneously is extremely rare..."
"He can pass and dunk... This new addition to Wake Forest seems to be making a strong impression..."
"Whoa, I didn't know you could dunk!"
As He Ximeng retreated on defense, Duncan walked past him expressionlessly and teased him in a low voice.
He Ximeng shrugged helplessly, "If you weren't being lazy, would I have had to dunk it myself?"
The game continued. Virginia's drive to the basket was met with a ruthless block by Duncan in the paint.
He Ximeng immediately secured the loose ball and chased after the opponent to initiate a fast break!
Having learned from the previous play, Virginia full-speeded back on defense. Everyone's attention was on He Ximeng. However, He Ximeng, without slowing down, changed direction and broke through Virginia's defense. But instead of attacking the basket, he faked under the rim and drove out from the left along the baseline!
Just as the Virginia players and the spectators were utterly confused, He Ximeng dished out a behind-the-back bounce pass, accurately feeding the ball to Duncan, who had followed the play up the middle. Duncan caught the ball, took flight, and, with Virginia's big man closing in for a block, slammed home a two-handed dunk!
Wake Forest University started the game with a 6-0 run against Virginia, showing no signs of a team that had just lost its core point guard.
"Speaking of which, who was Wake Forest's former core point guard?"
"Who cares who it was? Isn't this number 4 player amazing right now?"
With two assists, one steal, and one dunk, He Ximeng instantly won over the Wake Forest University fans.
Virginia finally ended their scoring drought with a three-pointer. But as soon as they did, He Ximeng assisted Rusty for a three-pointer from the top of the arc, and then assisted Jerry for a three-pointer from the right corner...
12-3. Wake Forest University further extended their lead to nine points.
He Ximeng's playmaking ensured Wake Forest University's offensive fluidity.
However, it was Duncan's rim protection ability in the paint that truly determined the outcome of the game.
Duncan, as the best rim protector among the big men in NCAA this year, could arguably be described as unparalleled...
Due to Duncan's dominance in the paint, Virginia struggled to find their rhythm offensively, allowing Wake Forest University to gradually widen the score.
This matchup, originally predicted to be an upset, ultimately concluded with Wake Forest University securing a decisive victory of 82-63!
Duncan scored a game-high 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 blocks, showcasing his dominance!
He Ximeng's NCAA debut concluded with an all-around stat line of 12 points, 14 assists, 4 steals, 2 rebounds, and 2 blocks, stunning all the spectators!
Especially Coach Dean, who had originally wanted to recruit He Ximeng for North Carolina... He was beyond shocked, his expression a complex study.
If Coach Dean had been unsure of what he was missing before the game, he was now absolutely certain: he had missed the opportunity to lead this year's North Carolina team to greatness...
Yes, with a point guard like He Ximeng, who didn't demand the ball, organizing the offense, would Carter and Jamison have been defeated by the relatively unknown Clemson University?
But now, it was too late! He Ximeng had already donned the number 4 jersey of the Demon Deacons and was destined to have no connection with North Carolina, nor with him...
However, for He Ximeng himself, joining North Carolina would likely not have changed their first-round elimination this year... because Coach Dean would certainly not have gone to such lengths, like Dave Odom, to expedite He Ximeng's enrollment procedures within a week and allow him to play this season as an injury exception substitute.
In other words, Coach Dean was overthinking. If He Ximeng had truly joined North Carolina, it might have taken until the fall to complete all the necessary procedures... He Ximeng would likely only be able to officially play for North Carolina next season... North Carolina's fate for this season was already sealed...
In the final matchup of the first round, the regular season champions Georgia Tech successfully defeated North Carolina State University to advance to the Final Four.
After the game, He Ximeng seemed to notice Stephon Marbury's sharp gaze fixed in his direction.
"Hey, Ximeng, the first-year point guard for Georgia Tech seems to be staring at you?" Duncan lowered his head and whispered.
"Impossible! I'm not the team's number 1. If anyone's going to be stared at, it should be you!"
"No, no, no..." Duncan shook his head vigorously. "Firstly, you're both freshmen. Secondly, you're both point guards. Lastly, matters concerning perimeter players are for perimeter players to resolve..."
This guy Duncan had a nose for things sharper than a bloodhound.
However, Wake Forest University and Georgia Tech were in different halves of the bracket. If they were to meet, it would only be in the final divisional game.
For now, it was better to focus on playing the next game steadily.
After all, their next opponent was Clemson University, the team that had just eliminated the University of North Carolina!